WHO’S THERE?
After The Blind Man (played by Stephen Lang) says these two words, “Don’t Breathe” this movie turns into something truly special. From the director of the AWESOME “Evil Dead” remake comes a tense, dark, brutal and original horror film that only gets more thrilling as it goes on. So here’s the plot… These 3 young home invaders from Detroit are trying to get out of the Motor City. There’s “Money” (Daniel Zovatto), the loud mouth wanna be gangster who pushes everyone around, Alex (Dylan Minnette), the smart, quiet, tech guy who knows everything about alarms and home security, and finally “Rocky” played by “Evil Dead’s Jane Levy. I loved Levy in “Evil Dead” and I’m glad that Alvarez casted her again for this film. She’s becoming the Uma Thurman to his Tarantino.
My only beef with “Don’t Breathe” is the initial set up. Don’t get me wrong. These actors are likeable, even though they play little shits who might break into your house and steal your PS4. I just didn’t care about these characters back stories. You empathize with Rocky’s reasons for wanting a better life, but the scenes with her and her daughter felt a lot like “8 Mile.” Been there done that. The movie starts off with the trinity hears about this old blind army vet who has a lot of bank in a safe. The kind of money that can set you up for life. The guy’s blind. Should be easy right? WRONG! “WHO’S THERE?” That’s when the movie starts for me. Imaging if Daredevil was crazy, and you broke into his house, and he woke up, and he locked every door from the inside, and you can’t make a #@$%&#$ sound cause if you do, this crazy mofo is coming after you.
Lang plays The Blind Man with a mixture of strength, pain and desperation. He really shows what he can do with the right material. CAN WE CAST HIM AS CABLE ALREADY? He’s a killing machine and his handicap makes him even scarier. He moves like wild beast looking for it’s prey. Something like Michael Myers but more human.The kids hold their own too and I especially liked Dylan Minnette’s performance. You might remember him from 2015’s “Goosebumps.” One moment he looks like he’s gonna #@$% his pants, the next he’s a total bad ass. Levy is good here too but was much better in “Evil Dead.” YOU SHOULD WATCH
“EVIL DEAD” TONIGHT! But Lang is definitely the star of the show. AND THAT @#$%&$# DOG!
Alvarez is building a great body of work as a horror director. It’s a great time for horror fans with directors like him and James Wan around. Wait until you see the long continuous shot that Alvarez uses when the gang first enter the house. I could watch that all day. The basement scene in the dark was something to behold. You can tell the actors couldn’t see a thing and it really added to the tension. Detroit is also a character in the film. Some of the shots remided me of “It Fallows” which is not a bad thing. Detroit has this grimey look that is perfect for horror movies. It really feels like no one is coming to save you.
BOTTOM LINE:
“Don’t Breathe” starts with an uninspired set up but turns into an original, realistic take on the slasher genre. Stephan Lang is amazing as The Blind Man, and fans of Alvarez’s Evil Dead remake will feel right at home while watching this movie. Dead is superior by far, but this film is a good fallow up. Go see it.
7\10
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